- Hardcover: 302 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc (1 July 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0195100352
- ISBN-13: 978-0195100358
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 15.7 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,419,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
The Handicap Principle: A Missing Piece of Darwin's Puzzle
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Product Description
Review
"Among the most revolutionary and controversial concepts in modern behavioral biology is the handicap principle developed by Zahavi. After initially encountering resistance, it has been receiving increased acceptance for its success in explaining an enormous variety of animal behaviors and anatomical structures, from gazelles' seemingly suicidal displays to men's beards. Read this fine book, and discover what the excitement is all about!"--Jared M. Diamond, Professor of Physiology, University of California at Los Angeles
Product Description
The handicap principle, first proposed by Zahavi about 17 years ago, has in the past several years become widely accepted as a central unifying theory explaining many previously baffling aspects of animal signalling and communication. It is arguably the most important theoretical advance in animal behaviour in recent years. Basically, the theory states that to be effective, signals must be reliable, and to be reliable, they must be costly to the signaller. This fundamental insight is then developed to explain and illuminate much of animal and human behaviour - why the peacock's tail is so ornate, and why antelope will spend energy stetting or leaping into the air, when they see a predator, instead of running away, but also how humans test each others' commitment by imposing burdens during courtship. Signals are paid attention to only if the signal itself imposes a handicap on the signaller that would make cheating impossible or unprofitable, This book explores the very wide-ranging implications of the handicap principle, for predator-prey relations, sexual selection, parent-offspring relations, coalitions and alliances, and the persistence of altruism, in animals and also in human societies and intercellular signalling within multicellular organisms.
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First Sentence
Babblers move around their territory during the day, looking for food on the ground among the desert trees and bushes. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
Babblers move around their territory during the day, looking for food on the ground among the desert trees and bushes. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'The Handicap Principle: A Missing Piece of Darwin's Puzzle' is the epitome of a good scientific theory: clearly written, well-argued and full of facts.
Amotz and Avishag Zahavi are not impressed by reputations and reject traditional explanations when they offend common sense, even if they were formulated by such big names as Ronald Fisher, J.B.S. Haldane, William Hamilton, Robert Trivers or Richard Dawkins.
The Handicap Principle explains why so many animals bear apparently unnecessary burdens, such as the flamboyant tail of the peacock. The old answer is that the peahens who prefer peacocks with the largest tails will thereby gain sexy large-tailed sons and also pass on the taste for large tails to their daughters; while the sons of those peahens who dislike large tails will find no mates. The problem with this theory is that sexy large tails may mask physical weakness.
By contrast, the handicap principle says that the peacock's large tail demonstrates his fitness by saying (in effect) 'Look how strong I must be to carry this burden'. Amotz Zahavi's great insight is the idea of 'signal cost'; that is, for a large tail to be an honest signal of the fitness of a peacock, it must handicap the animal displaying it in a way that cannot easily be copied by a weaker individual.
Handicaps, such as conspicuous patches and colours, horns and antlers, loud calls and ritualised movements, are costly in effort, energy or feeding time or expose animals to risk from predation or accident, and therefore allow potential mates, rivals and even predators to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality individuals.
An example of signalling between prey and predator is 'stotting' performed by gazelles (which leap into the air while running to escape from a predator). Stotting says to the leopard (in effect): 'Look how strong a gazelle I am that I can waste energy showing off like this: go hunt somebody weaker'.
'The Handicap Principle' has many original and fascinating applications to human physiognomy and behaviour, dozens of animal behaviours, insect pheromones and signalling between cells. It also provides an alternative explanation for biological altruism that corrects selfish gene theory with regard to kin-selection and reciprocal altruism.
The illustrations are good, the style is charming, the argument persuasive. Read and enjoy!
Amotz and Avishag Zahavi are not impressed by reputations and reject traditional explanations when they offend common sense, even if they were formulated by such big names as Ronald Fisher, J.B.S. Haldane, William Hamilton, Robert Trivers or Richard Dawkins.
The Handicap Principle explains why so many animals bear apparently unnecessary burdens, such as the flamboyant tail of the peacock. The old answer is that the peahens who prefer peacocks with the largest tails will thereby gain sexy large-tailed sons and also pass on the taste for large tails to their daughters; while the sons of those peahens who dislike large tails will find no mates. The problem with this theory is that sexy large tails may mask physical weakness.
By contrast, the handicap principle says that the peacock's large tail demonstrates his fitness by saying (in effect) 'Look how strong I must be to carry this burden'. Amotz Zahavi's great insight is the idea of 'signal cost'; that is, for a large tail to be an honest signal of the fitness of a peacock, it must handicap the animal displaying it in a way that cannot easily be copied by a weaker individual.
Handicaps, such as conspicuous patches and colours, horns and antlers, loud calls and ritualised movements, are costly in effort, energy or feeding time or expose animals to risk from predation or accident, and therefore allow potential mates, rivals and even predators to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality individuals.
An example of signalling between prey and predator is 'stotting' performed by gazelles (which leap into the air while running to escape from a predator). Stotting says to the leopard (in effect): 'Look how strong a gazelle I am that I can waste energy showing off like this: go hunt somebody weaker'.
'The Handicap Principle' has many original and fascinating applications to human physiognomy and behaviour, dozens of animal behaviours, insect pheromones and signalling between cells. It also provides an alternative explanation for biological altruism that corrects selfish gene theory with regard to kin-selection and reciprocal altruism.
The illustrations are good, the style is charming, the argument persuasive. Read and enjoy!
Format:Hardcover
This very readable book covers a wide range of biological behavior, and really demonstrates the reality of the Handicap Principle. Not only am I convinced of its truth, but now understand much more about human behavior than before.
Format:Hardcover
A compelling addition to the literature on natural selection and evolution. The Handicap Principle illustrates with compelling examples the reasons for the evolution of much animal behavior, coloring, and communication. A bit heavy on zoology for non-natural scientists, it however is a must read if you fancy yourself a student of evolution.
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