good genes hypothesis

a hypothesis of female mate selection arguing that certain features of male behavior and body structure reflect genetic variations that are correlated with positive survival attributes such as health and strength and that females choose males with such features, thereby enhancing their offspring’s chances of survival. Compare runaway selection. [proposed in 1982 by British evolutionary biologist William D. Hamilton (1936–2000) and U.S. behavioral ecologist Marlene Zuk (1956– )]

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

March 17th 2025

paranoid delusion

loosely, any of a variety of false personal beliefs tenaciously sustained even in the face of incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. These include delusions of grandeur, delusional jealousy, or, most frequently, delusions of persecution.