Scientific American describes my mother to a T. An article titled âThe Incredible Importance of Mothers,â by social scientist Melanie Tannenbaum, lays out the argument that a motherâs comfort â not just meeting basic needs, such as providing food and shelter â is essential to the development and wellbeing of children. Tannenbaum cites the work of social scientist John Bowlby, who in the 1950s âdetermined that our attachment to parental figures (in particular, he argued, to mothers) plays a huge, critical role in our ability to learn, grow, and develop healthy adult relationships.â She also cites the work of psychologist Harry Harlow, who was strongly influenced by Bowlbyâs attachment theory. Harlow believed that we humans have a core motivation for love and affection as children and that a motherâs comfort is what develops our sense of security â which is the key to living a happy, productive and well-adjusted life.