How do people evaluate how much social progress has been achieved, and how do these perceptions influence intergroup attitudes? We present a model summarizing the signals and sense-making that arise when people think about progress. We review the signals that shape progress perceptions when people observe individual exemplars of success from, or substantive advances for, negatively stereotyped groups. We also identify three types of stereotype-relevant cognitive schemas that can be disrupted, or exacerbated, as people work to make sense of social progress: bias and perceived threat, beliefs about persisting inequality, and support for further progress. We highlight the complexities of progress — a reversible, fragmented, and sometimes superficial process — that merit further study. We discuss implications for organizations and society.

人们如何评估社会进步的程度，这些看法如何影响群体间的态度？我们提出了一个模型，总结了人们思考进步时出现的信号和意义。当人们从负面刻板印象的群体中观察个人成功范例或实质性进步时，我们回顾了塑造进步感知的信号。我们还确定了三种与刻板印象相关的认知模式，当人们努力理解社会进步时，它们可能会被破坏或加剧：偏见和感知威胁、对持续不平等的信念以及对进一步进步的支持。我们强调了进步的复杂性——一个可逆的、分散的、有时是肤浅的过程——值得进一步研究。我们讨论对组织和社会的影响。