Cultural Materialism is a theoretical framework developed by Marvin Harris, which posits that the material conditions of life – particularly technology, environment, and economy – are the primary determinants of social organization and ideology. Harris proposed a tripartite model of culture: infrastructure (mode of production and reproduction), structure (social organization, politics), and superstructure (ideology, religion, art). According to this theory, changes in the infrastructure drive changes in the structure and superstructure. It emphasizes an 'etic' (outsider's objective) perspective, seeking to explain cultural practices through observable, measurable factors rather than 'emic' (insider's subjective) interpretations. A classic example is Harris's explanation of the sacred cow in India, arguing that its religious veneration is a rational adaptation to ecological and economic conditions, providing essential resources like milk, dung, and traction, rather than merely a spiritual belief. Critics argue it can be overly deterministic and reduce complex cultural phenomena to economic factors.