Question

One potential way to prevent conflict is to

a. avoid making excess regulations.
b. avoid over-communication.
c. reduce excess resources.
d. keep groups small

Answer 1

To prevent conflict, d. keeping groups small is effective as it makes monitoring and enforcement easier and strengthens peer pressure, thus reducing collective action problems.

Step-by-step explanation:

One potential way to prevent conflict is to keep groups small. This strategy helps in avoiding or mitigating collective action problems because monitoring and enforcement are easier in small groups. Additionally, in small groups, each individual's behavior is more visible, and there is stronger peer pressure, which reduces the likelihood of free-riding. Small group dynamics enable better coordination and stronger personal relationships which can be essential for maintaining cooperation and resolving conflicts. This contrasts with large groups where individuals may have different incentives and be more prone to the prisoner's dilemmas due to the weaker monitoring and enforcement, and less personal accountability.