Conscience refers to?

Conscience is understood as an inner feeling or sense that helps individuals determine the rightness or wrongness of their actions. It serves as an internal moral compass, guiding one's decisions and actions based on personal values and ethical beliefs. This concept emphasizes personal responsibility and accountability, indicating that individuals possess the ability to reflect on their behavior and make moral judgments.

The other options reflect different aspects of morality and ethics but do not capture the essence of conscience as effectively. An external authority guiding moral decisions refers to teachings from religious or legal systems, which can influence conscience but is not a description of conscience itself. Societal norms regarding behavior signify standards set by a community, which may influence conscience but are separate from the individual’s internal sense of morality. Lastly, a belief based on cultural heritage relates to the influence of tradition and upbringing on moral perspectives, yet it does not encapsulate the personal, introspective nature of conscience that involves individual judgment and personal moral reasoning.