English Explanatory Dictionary

handicap principle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A hypothesis attempting to explain how evolution may lead to "honest" or reliable signalling between animals which have an obvious motivation to bluff or deceive each other. It suggests that costly signals must be reliable, costing the signaller something that could not be afforded by an individual with less of a particular trait.

Word forms

handicap principle the handicap principle
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