Final answer:
Richard Lee referred to the increase in potential for interpersonal conflicts with the growth of population in band level societies as 'intensification of social density'. This issue arises due to the lack of formal structures for conflict resolution in acephalous societies, which are otherwise egalitarian and consensus-driven.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his field studies of the Ju/'hoansi, otherwise known as the Dobe !Kung, anthropologist Richard Lee documented how the increase in the number of people in a band level society leads to a higher potential for disruptive interpersonal conflicts. Lee called this phenomenon the intensification of social density. This observation fits within broader anthropological discussions about the structure and dynamics of acephalous societies, which are characterized by the lack of formal leaders or hierarchies and manage social order through informal means such as discussion and consensus.
As per the insights provided by anthropologists like Lee, Fortes, and Evans-Pritchard, these societies tend to be egalitarian with decisions made through consensus. However, they typically face challenges in conflict resolution as their populations grow, which can lead to increased violence and social disorder. This is particularly evident in societies that have not developed centralized forms of government or formal ways to settle disputes, unlike more stratified and centralized societies such as chiefdoms and states.