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Runaway Theory
He said that this process would exaggerate male ornaments until it was equalised with a reduction in male survival. An example would be bird tail length for example will continually get bigger if females prefer this and get to the point where practicality of tail length becomes insignificant. However, sometimes females' preference is so strong that despite a reduction in male fitness, the population can end up becoming extinct.
It is self-reinforcing as every time a mutation arises for a particular trait and is a favourable one, it spreads through the population.
He said that this type of behaviour is beneficial to choosy females as their offspring would then benefit. Her daughters would prefer more attractive males, as her genes for sexual preference will be passed on; and her sons would be more attractive as they gained their fathers genes. These so called favourable genes are continually added to the gene pool
