How we evolved to handicap our own self - to get ahead

The Handicap Principle is one of the most intriguing scientific ideas of the last 50 years. Proposed in 1975 by Israeli biologist Amotz Zahavi, it was initially ridiculed. But this principle successfully explains paradoxical animal behavior, & later research validated it. More👇

Animals often do things that seem to go against their self-interest. Blabbers reveal their positions to their predators, gazelles waste precious time and energy by jumping up and down when spotted by predators, and crabs build sand castles right where waves destroy them.

What explains such irrationality or inefficiency? Some argue this is incomplete evolution, but Zahabi gives a different answer. These animals are not hurting themselves - to the contrary, they're signaling their strength and confidence. Here's how.👇

By revealing their position, blabbers are telling the nearby raptor, its predator, it has "no chance of catching them." By exposing itself and wasting energy, the gazelle signals: I'm so fast I can handicap myself like this. So don't bother.

The crab signals: I'm so energetic and healthy I can afford to "continually rebuild" my sand castles. While blabbers and gazelles are signaling to rivals, the crab is signaling to potential mates. Animals, including humans, handicap themselves both in front of rivals and mates.

Here's something wild: Pelicans "grow fleshy bumps between their eyes" when looking to mate. This hurts their vision and damages their ability to look for fish. The signal is: I'm such a fishing expert I can feed myself even with this handicap.

Zahavi gives another example: " Frog-eating bats locate frogs by the amphibians' courtship calls. Only a male frog that can successfully avoid bats despite disclosing its location to them can afford to croak much." The female frogs think: that's a ballsy guy, I'll go with him.

Humans handicap themselves to potential rivals and lovers too. Men often walk towards a rival, hands down and chin exposed. This threat works because the signal is: I'm so strong I can bring my exposed face to you, thereby handicapping myself, and you still can't do a thing.

When looking to propose, men handicap their bank account with a diamond ring. The signal are: I'm resourceful - could a poor man do this? I'm trustworthy - could I do this with "many females simultaneously"? I'm sincere - would I put so much money on the line if I wasn't?

Bottom line. Animal behaviors that looks stupid, inefficient, or merely decorative are actually better explained through the handicap principle. By handicapping oneself, an animal sends a reliable signal about its abundance, strength, and sincerity.