This relationship was under constant scrutiny in the early twentieth century, as B. F. Skinner and the behaviorists took on John Bowlby in a discussion of the mother's importance in the development of the child, the nature of their relationship, and the impact of physical contact between mother and child.
Selle suhte uurimine küttis 20. sajandil kirgi tulenevalt B. F. Skinneri ja J. Bowlby arutelust emahoole olulisusest lapse arengus, nende suhte iseloomust ja füüsilise kontakti rollist ema ja lapse suhtes.