Which term denotes a group defined by shared ancestry and common physical characteristics?

• A. Culture
• B. Ethnocentrism
• C. Race
• D. Stereotype

Answer: (C)

Defining a group by shared ancestry and common physical characteristics is race. Race refers to categories people are placed into based on inherited traits such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture. While these traits exist, genetic variation within any racial group is often greater than variation between groups, so race is as much a social and historical construct as a biological one. In health care, understanding this helps clinicians appreciate how social factors tied to racial categorization can influence health outcomes and access to care. By contrast, culture involves learned beliefs and behaviors; ethnocentrism is judging other cultures by your own standards; stereotypes are oversimplified beliefs about a group.