Fisherian runaway: Difference between revisions

Another mechanism that could explain exaggerated ornament and the immense sexual attraction to it, could be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handicap_principle Zahavi's handicap principle], also called ''good genes hypothesis'' which claims that exaggerated ornament is a costly and hence reliable signal of other desirable traits. For example, a peacock with a very large tail would be easy prey (which is costly), hence must likely have other good traits that make up for it enabling his survival despite his handicap (good genes).  There is, however, little supporting scientific evidence.  In humans in particular, beauty is not strongly correlated with health at all, and even less with cognitive ability.<ref>https://incels.wiki/w/Scientific_Blackpill#Attractive_people_are_perceived_much_more_positively_than_they_really_are</ref> Neither does human ornament like seem to be particularly costly (except for tallness and large female breasts).

For example, in peafowls, the males evolved to have extremely large plumage, most likely due to persistent female preference for large plumage, strengthened by Fisherian runaway.  The preference the peahens have for large plumage caused the peacock's plumage to become absurdly large, hindering its mobility to evade predators, and also requiring a lot of energy to grow and maintain.