A rich social life (measured by quality of experience rather than quantity of friends) contributes to good health, happiness and longevity. So many of us place value on hard work, measurable achievement and wealth, and often fail to set aside time to nurture our relationships and strengthen social ties. We make the mistake of believing that security is found in material things rather than people.

Participants experience a 'social intimacy' and a basic 'trust' in the inclusiveness and good intentions of the other people present. Hygge cannot be achieved if there is disagreement and conflict in the group or if there is a sense of mistrust between people. Furthermore, situations characterised by hygge eschew graveness and seriousness. -Carsten Levisen

To be in a situation characterised by hygge is to be in a state of pleasant wellbeing and security, with a relaxed frame of mind and an open enjoyment of the immediate situation in all its small pleasures - a state one achieves most often with close members of one's social network in a home-like setting. -Judith Friedman Hansen

Hygge relates to social awareness, ways of communicating and ways of thinking about others. When we hygger, we acknowledge each other's traits and foibles without indulging them.