Page 78 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Sustainability with luck-dependent decision-making

communities for this work—often the case with original sustainability. For this practice to be sustainable, it must
historical research (Kipping et al., 2014)—representing enable the intentional community to persist while ensuring
a general limitation to the historical method (Pandey & that each member finds the results acceptable.
Pandey, 2015).
Key factors influencing Stray Kids’ decision-making
Another limitation is that, despite this intentional process include: Prioritizing group stability, supporting
community relying on the participation of all members individual values, addressing relevant issues, ensuring
rather than representation in decision-making, the author relevant decision time; making decision satisfaction a
was unable to assess the views of all historically associated priority; and reconsideration of the outcome of a decision
members of Stray Kids. Thus, individual viewpoints could is an option—factors related to the SDGs of equality, peace,
potentially have led to results different from those recorded. and justice—the most important to Stray Kids being group
For example, although the eight members of Stray Kids in stability and making decisions quickly so the group can
2024 are noticeably bound to each other and their group return to their work as a successful, self-producing K-pop
goals, one member left early in the group’s history for group. Continued creativity and group cohesiveness
undisclosed personal reasons (Delgado, 2019). However, gain support through any individual negative feelings
there was likely significant interpersonal conflict that led representing reduced mental health being resolved quickly
to the breakup of this member with the group, as that past in this intentional community.
group member recently created an apology video to Stray
Kids for his behavior (Chon, 2024). Understanding how This result holds significant value for intentional
Stray Kids navigated such challenges could be valuable communities considering changes in their decision-making
in understanding their group cohesion regarding their practices in settling potential interpersonal conflicts to
decision-making; nevertheless, only a week after this ninth ensure their continued satisfaction with their decision-
group member left, the remaining others acted on camera making process. Rock-Paper-Scissors, a game primarily
as if the group had always consisted of only eight members played by two players, can also serve as a group activity, as
(Bang, 2019). demonstrated by Stray Kids in one of their earlier videos
(Stray Kids, 2020). This demonstration might be helpful to
From these limitations, the consideration given to those interested in using this game as a decision-making
the ability of this assessment of the use of Rock-Paper- method. Placing the value of the group ahead of self-interest
Scissors by Stray Kids in group-wide decision-making to in group-wide decisions, the value of the group is paramount
apply to general society in meeting Goals 10 and 16 of in resolving interpersonal conflicts and defines the positive
the United Nations SDGs should be cautious. There are mental health of group members. Societies accustomed to
many necessary and interdependent variables for Stray the supremacy of self-interest in decision-making might
Kids to make decisions able to meet Goals 10 and 16, the accomplish this by considering team mindfulness, the value
most important being trust in the ability of Bang Chan as of which this author examined elsewhere (Nash, 2023a;
a leader to keep the group intact and continue its success. Nash, 2023b). If these practices extend beyond intentional
These considerations can produce and maintain team communities to general society, they could contribute
mindfulness—mindfulness that has been found relevant positively to achieving Goals 10 and 16 of the SDGs.
to promoting positive mental health resulting from group
decision-making (Nash, 2023a; Nash, 2023b). Acknowledgments

5. Conclusion None.
This study aimed to contribute to the literature on Funding
intentional communities by exploring their ability to meet
Goals 10 and 16 of the SDGs—specifically, promoting None.
equality, peace, and justice through their decision-making Conflict of interest
processes. Recent interest in intentional communities
as models for achieving these goals has prompted this The author declares no competing interest.
research (Esteves et al., 2021; Kaul et al., 2022).
Author contributions
Examining the economically successful intentional
community of Stray Kids, this study concludes that their This is a single-authored article.
use of luck-based decision-making, specifically the Rock- Ethics approval and consent to participate
Paper-Scissors game, requires an understanding of the
community’s values and the participants’ self-interest for Not applicable.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3191