What term refers to a standard or principle that guides behavior regarding right and wrong?

The term that best encapsulates a standard or principle guiding behavior regarding right and wrong is ethics. Ethics serves as a framework that individuals or groups use to evaluate situations and make decisions based on their understanding of what is morally right or wrong. It encompasses the values, principles, and beliefs that influence conduct in various contexts, such as personal life, business, and society at large.

Moral, while related, typically refers to individual beliefs about right and wrong rather than an established framework like ethics. Regulation pertains more to specific rules or laws imposed by authorities rather than principles of conduct. Conduct relates to the manner in which a person behaves, which can be influenced by ethics but does not inherently define the guiding principles themselves.

Understanding that ethics provides the foundational standards for behavior helps clarify why it is the most appropriate term in this context, reflecting broader societal norms and collective judgments about right and wrong.