Final answer:
Values are not a direct cause of mental or emotional illness; rather, recognized causes include physical factors, heredity, and early experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factor that is NOT a cause of mental or emotional illness is c. Values. While physical factors, heredity, and early experiences are recognized contributors to emotional and mental health issues, values themselves are not considered direct causes of these illnesses.
Instead, values may influence a person's response to stressors or their behavior, but they do not directly cause mental or emotional illness.
It's essential to acknowledge that mental health conditions could stem from a complex interplay of genetic factors, brain chemistry, trauma, and life experiences.