Why does a lion chase a gazelle that is running away? We look at the mechanism of trust formation in animal and human societies through the Costly Signal Theory.
In Africa, a lion started hunting to catch a gazelle. But one gazelle didn’t run away but kept hopping in place. The lion didn’t catch the gazelle that didn’t run away but went after the other gazelle that was running away at full speed. Why did this happen?
At first glance, this is something that is hard to understand. From the gazelle’s point of view, it is common sense to run away at full speed if there is a lion chasing you, and from the lion’s point of view, it is common sense to catch a gazelle that does not run away rather than a gazelle that runs at full speed. However, if you look at this scene from the animals’ point of view in more detail, you can find a reason to understand this situation.
Hunting is very tiring for both the hunter and the hunted. That is why lions should maximize their chances of success when they start hunting. Lions should chase the slowest gazelle in the herd to reduce their physical exertion and increase their chances of success. Gazelles must flee first because they do not know who the lion is chasing. However, if they know that the lion is not chasing them, they can reduce the amount of stamina they expend while fleeing. If the slowest gazelle takes action and shows it outwardly, both the lion and the gazelle can expend the least amount of stamina.
However, there is no practical way for a lion to know which gazelle is the slowest. The fastest gazelle does something that the slower gazelles cannot imitate to prove its speed. This is how the gazelle escapes the lion’s target, and that behavior is hopping. The reason why hopping around can prove that you are fast is that by taking such a dangerous action despite the presence of a predator aiming at you, you can convince the lion that you are a fast gazelle. Also, because such behavior is dangerous, a gazelle that runs slowly would not be able to do such a thing when there is a predator right in front of it.
The act of hopping is a sign that shows how fast a gazelle can run. This is a sign that not just anyone can send, so it is called Costly Signal Theory. Examples of Costly Signal Theory can be found in other animals as well.
In peacocks, only males have elegant tail feathers. However, the tail feathers are so large and heavy that it is inconvenient to carry them around, and they are easily seen by predators, making them dangerous. Nevertheless, peacocks carry their feathers because they are considered sexually attractive, which gives them an advantage when looking for a mate. Why were the feathers considered sexually attractive? The reason is that, even though they carry such cumbersome feathers, they have survived, which shows how capable they are. If they were not capable, they would have died already. This is why the existence of these feathers sends a Costly Signal. And the more costly the signal, the more the other party trusts it.
People also send signals to show their abilities. Let’s take a look at some examples of Costly Signal Theory in human behavior.
In a scene often seen in gangster movies, two gangsters hit their heads with beer bottles before fighting, and another person smashes a wooden club with his own head instead of the opponent’s, which is an action that is hard to understand at first glance. However, this act also has the same effect as a leaping kick. If you are weak and have no inner strength, you cannot perform this act because you will be severely injured the moment you hit your own head with a wooden stick. This act is a Costly Signal to show others that you are strong because weak people cannot perform it.
People buy luxury cars, clothes, and watches to show off their wealth. If these things are so expensive that no one can even imitate them, they send a Costly Signal of high value. And the more costly these things are, the more effective that Costly Signal will be.
Another example of a behavior that people do to show off their wealth is the Potlatch Festival of the Qu’Appelle people. In the northwest region of the North American continent, there are Indians called Qu’Appelle. They hold a unique festival called Potlatch, which is held jointly by several villages. The head of the village that hosts the festival gives a huge amount of gifts to the heads of other villages and people from other villages. At the end of the festival, they throw their possessions into the flames, throwing more and more valuable items and even burning down their own houses. This ridiculous behavior is interpreted as a sign of how powerful and wealthy they are and is a very Costly Signal indeed.
Signals must be reliable and, to be reliable, they must not be sent by just anyone, but only by someone with specific abilities. In short, sending such signals costs money. If a person is not capable, the cost of sending a signal will be greater than the benefit of receiving it, so they will not send a signal. On the other hand, if a person is capable, the benefit of sending a signal will be greater than the cost of sending it, so they will send a signal. Therefore, the receiver of the signal will trust the signal, believing that the sender is capable.
This Costly Signal Theory can also be applied to explain people’s behavior. For example, to show their performance or ability at work, employees volunteer to work overtime or take on difficult projects. This behavior acts as a Costly Signal to show their ability and dedication to their superiors and colleagues. This effort and dedication can earn them much more trust than simply saying it.
We can also find examples of Costly Signal Theory in academics. Students’ efforts to get into higher education institutions, maintain high grades, and participate in various competitions are ways of showing the results of their intellectual abilities and efforts. These signals make a great impression on college admissions officers and future employers and are an important factor in making them trust the student’s abilities.
Finally, sending Costly Signals also plays an important role in social relationships. For example, at weddings or other important social events, people wear expensive clothes and accessories and host lavish parties, which are a way of showing off their social status and wealth. These signals are not just a way of showing off but also a way of showing that they are trustworthy.
