A03

• conflict between natural and sexual selection

  some adaptions that are sexually selected for such as peacock feathers may be selected due to sexual selection, however can be a disadvantage when surviving such as escaping predators
• research by cunningham (1986) found that men were attracted to images of youthful faces (large eyes, small noses, and chins)
• research by singh (1993) shows a cross cultural preference for a 0.7 hip to waist ratio
• evolutionary approach may be criticised as legitimatising a gender double standard between men and women, sexual differences may have been exaggerated (alpha bias)
• research in this area could be seen as socially sensitive, findings could be used as justification for shaming women for their sexual behaviour
• evolutionary explanations for sexual selection can also be criticised for not explaining homosexual partner preference