Weapon evolution and deterrence form a self-accelerating spiral.

Evidence

As weapons get bigger they select for increasingly elaborate deterrence, and deterrence, in turn, selects for bigger and bigger weapons. Arms races and deterrence push each other forward, escalating in an evolutionary spiral. Like a figure skater pulling her arms to her chest, the evolution of extreme weapons gets faster and faster. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 390

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Successful cheaters can reverse selection so big weapons collapse; Bombers evolved like castles, adding all-around defenses against attackers; When balancing selection fails, bigger weapons win every round and escalate the race. (+10 more)

Related

• Deterrence amplifies the evolutionary payoff of extreme weapon size. (similarity 0.90)
• Weapon growth widens the gap between the best- and worst-armed males. (similarity 0.88)
• Weapon escalation ends when costs outweigh benefits and cheaters invade (similarity 0.87)
• When balancing selection fails, bigger weapons win every round and escalate the race. (similarity 0.87)
• Weapons primarily deter rivals rather than inflict harm in actual fights (similarity 0.87)
• Weapons work primarily as deterrents that prevent fights rather than win them (similarity 0.87)
• Costly advanced weapons deter rivals just like large animal weapons (similarity 0.86)
• Dueling plus competition and defensibility is the general rule for extreme weapons (similarity 0.86)
• Bombers evolved like castles, adding all-around defenses against attackers (similarity 0.85)
• Each escalation in weapon size resets the competitive baseline and triggers the next round (similarity 0.85)
• Deterrence logic can justify seeking more horrific retaliatory weapons. (similarity 0.84)
• Weapons evolve only when reproductive benefits exceed costs (similarity 0.84)
• Weapons evolved as signals so males could predict fight outcomes before risking battle (similarity 0.84)
• Weapon evolution is judged by competition among designs, not human survival (similarity 0.83)
• The most expensive weapons serve as deterrents by projecting power globally. (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• Costly advanced weapons deter rivals just like large animal weapons #exemplifies (0.60) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 592