Hygge relies on us finding a balance between self-containment and wholehearted participation, personal liberty and awareness of the needs of others. It connotes a caring, civilised mode of behaviour that builds companionable ease and trust.

How we need that security. How we need another soul to cling to, another body to keep us warm. To rest and trust; to give your soul in confidence: I need this. I need someone to pour myself into. -Sylvia Plath

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

...the problem is this: how do you measure wellbeing, happiness, tactility, trust, freedom, friendship, awareness, beauty, love, memory and so on? -Ilsa Crawford