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Laughing at a funeral is pretty taboo and can seem inappropriate and insensitive given the emotional setting. However, it is a response that is more common than you might think and clinical psychologist Dr Abigael San explains why some simply can’t help it.

Dr San said: “A funeral is a situation that many people find very difficult emotionally with everything that it represents.

“An expression of laughter can be what we call a manic defence, almost like a coping strategy but in a defensive way.

“There is nothing wrong with that but the behavioural expression of that can sometimes be a bit confusing although it is just one of our many defence mechanisms.”

Although laughter might be a natural reaction at a funeral, it is the last place you want to be seen in fits of laughter whilst the rest of the congregation are wiping away tears.

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Dr San has put forward some suggestions to prevent it. She said: “A suggestion would be to notice and acknowledge what is going on internally, to self-monitor a bit about what is happening within you physiologically.

“Breathe through it and maybe wiggle your toes and concentrate on the feeling of your feet for a moment.

 “That does not mean that you are avoiding what you are thinking or feeling but it is almost like having your attention on more than one thing at the same time and that can make it a bit easier to manage.”

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