# An op-ed by Prof. Adam Alter on measuring beauty, happiness and wealth

1 Faculty News October 24, 2011 ![Psychology Today logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_031090.jpg?itok=H_RURAAM)>

Excerpt from [Psychology Today](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/alternative-truths/201110/why-its-impossible-measure-beauty-happiness-and-wealth) -- "Many of the concepts that we measure in the social world are difficult to measure objectively, in the absence of reference points, so we're compelled to rely on constantly changing yardsticks."

[Read more](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/alternative-truths/201110/why-its-impossible-measure-beauty-happiness-and-wealth)