Fisher's Runaway Selection

Fisher's Runaway Selection is a concept in evolutionary biology that explains how certain traits can become exaggerated over time through mate preference. It suggests that if one sex (usually females) prefers a specific trait in the other sex (typically males), like elaborate peacock feathers, this preference can drive the increasingly extravagant development of that trait. The initial attraction leads to more successful mating, reinforcing the trait's prominence in the population, even if it may not offer survival advantages. Essentially, it illustrates how beauty and attraction can evolve, often at the expense of practicality.