fitness signaling

Fitness signaling is the process by which individuals communicate their health, strength, or reproductive potential through specific behaviors or traits. These signals, such as physical appearance, courtship displays, or resource displays, convey qualities that can influence others’ decisions—like choosing a mate or competing for resources. The signals are often honest indicators of an individual’s biological fitness because they are costly or difficult to fake. In this way, fitness signaling helps to facilitate mating and social interactions by providing reliable cues about an individual's overall health and reproductive viability.