Which term refers to the set of customs, traditions, physical characteristics, and other cultural artifacts inherited from ancestors?

• A. Boundaries
• B. Homeostasis
• C. Heritage
• D. Identified patient

Answer: (C)

Heritage is the set of customs, traditions, physical characteristics, and other cultural artifacts inherited from ancestors. It shapes how people view the world, family roles, and identity, which is why this term best fits describing the inherited background a client brings to therapy. Understanding heritage helps counselors appreciate values, rituals, and social expectations that influence behavior and choices. Boundaries describe limits in relationships; homeostasis refers to maintaining internal balance in the body; the identified patient is a clinical label for the person in treatment, not a description of cultural inheritance.