SIGNALS
Signalling Theory is a fundamental body of theoretical work within Evolutionary Biology (and more specifically: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology). The theory examines how traits, colors, and behaviors evolve specifically because they convey reliable information about a signaler's hidden quality or intentions to a receiver.
What's a signal?
A signal is any variation in medium that conveys information.
Image generated by AI (Gemini)
HONEST SIGNALS • A signal that accurately conveys information because the cost of faking it is prohibitively high for low-quality individuals.
"Why is communication honest when the signaler and receiver have conflicting interests?"
The framework of Signalling Theory is often based on mathematical models from Game Theory that addresses this core question in evolution.
Proposed by evolutionary biologist Amotz Zahavi, this states that reliable signals must be costly to produce or maintain. Only the fittest individuals can afford "handicap."
The use of mathematical models (often from Game Theory ) to prove that a strategy (like using a costly signal) is stable over evolutionary time because low-quality individuals cannot profitably cheat the system.
The mathematical study of strategic decision-making among rational individuals or entities (called "players") where the outcome for each player depends not only on their own choice but also on the choices of others.
