The more sincere and open community members are, the more likely that community is to succeed. Unless a community's members are willing to face unpleasant realities, they cannot be sincere. Sincerity is required if community members are to trust each other. A community's failure is often caused by its members' unwillingness to face unpleasant realities and to discuss them honestly.
Sociologist: Traditional norms in our society prevent sincerity by requiring one to ignore unpleasant realities and tell small lies. But a community whose members do not trust one another cannot succeed. So, if a community is to succeed, its members must be willing to face unpleasant realities and speak about them honestly.
The sociologist's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?