Tea cosy/hat/trust analogy.
When a man(or woman) is alone, he has no audience but himself, therefore, when he tries the teacosy on as a hat, he is not 'acting the goat' for the benefit of anyone but himself, neatly ruling out his ego from our supposition. Our subject, therefore, is making a fool of himself for his own amusement and does not take himself too seriously - or indeed seriously at all.
It's just a pet theory of mine, but one with mileage (in my humble opinion.)
Anyone been caught wearing a cosy as a hat - whilst genuinely you thought you were alone?
I have - by Mrs515mm's mum