In her book "Conflict Is Not Abuse," Sarah Schulman highlights the negative impact of overindulgence on personal development. She argues that when individuals are indulged excessively, they lack constructive attention and miss out on essential teachings that aid in acquiring social and life skills. This neglect leads to a failure in learning self-regulation, which is crucial for navigating social situations effectively.

Schulman emphasizes that this overindulgence can create confusion between wants and needs. When desires are consistently catered to without addressing basic needs, it hinders the individual's ability to distinguish between what is truly essential and what is merely desired. Thus, the book critiques the notion of indulgence and its consequences on personal growth and responsibility within communities.