When people engage in interact socially, their brain releases oxytocin, the brain’s natural opiates, which induce in people a feeling of well-being. It has been suggested that regular release of oxytocin increases people’s longevity. And a statistic on adults who regularly engage in social activities shows that they live longer, on average, than adults who do not socialize. However, that statistic would be what we would expect even if socializing does not boost longevity, because ________________.
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
In the communities studied, women were much more likely to do regular socializing than men were, and women tend to live longer than men do
The feelings of well- being induced by oxytocin can, at least for a time, mask the symptoms of various conditions and diseases, provided the symptoms are mild
It is rare for a person to keep up a regular schedule of socialization throughout his or her life.