Strategic choice handicaps when females seek high male net viability.
We examine a strategic-choice handicap model in which males send costly signals to advertise their quality to females. Females are concerned with the net viability of the male with whom they mate, where net viability is a function of the male's quality and signal. We identify circumstances in which a signaling equilibrium would require high-quality males to send signals so much larger than those of lower-quality males (to deter mimicry by the latter) as to yield lower net viabilities for the former. This causes females to shun males who send large signals, ensuring that there is no signaling equilibrium.
Nöldeke
Georg
G
Department of Economics, University of Bonn, Adenauerallee 24-26, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
Samuelsom
Larry
L
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D005716:Game Theory; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal