Which term refers to principles of right and wrong behavior typically based on personal, religious, or cultural values?

• A. Ethics
• B. Morals
• C. Normative Ethics
• D. Descriptive Ethics

Answer: (B)

This question centers on beliefs about right and wrong that come from personal conscience, religion, or cultural norms. Morals are precisely those individual or community beliefs about what is right or wrong, often shaped by religious teachings, cultural values, or personal upbringing. In contrast, ethics refers to the systematic study or codified principles used to guide behavior—often in professional or philosophical contexts. Normative ethics asks what people ought to do, proposing standards for right action, while descriptive ethics describes how people actually think and behave morally without judging it. Because the statement points to beliefs rooted in personal or cultural values rather than a formal system or description of behavior, the best match is morals.