Final answer:
The behavior of seeking power and manipulating others for personal gain is termed b) Machiavellianism, which is not to be confused with conscientiousness, authoritarianism, or locus of control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency to direct much of one's behavior toward the acquisition of power and the manipulation of others for personal gain is known as Machiavellianism. This term stems from the strategies espoused by Niccolò Machiavelli in 'The Prince,' advocating for cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous behavior in politics or in general life to gain authority. It does not relate to conscientiousness, which is the personality trait of being careful or diligent; authoritarianism, which is the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom; or locus of control, which is the degree to which people believe that they have control over the outcome of events in their lives, either internally or externally.