I did laugh myself when I saw it was a German study.

That said, Germans have a fantastic sense of humor - it's just a bit different than the English-speaking Western humor. It's more dry and more casually draws attention to something that's a bit funny anyways - so you get your attention drawn to it... not sure why for a second... then people start laughing.

The timing/pacing is a bit different too - for me, it seems like the German pacing is frequently either - "ok, I'm telling a joke" (like a traditional standup comedian's pacing). Or it's dropping a joke into the middle of a seemingly serious conversdation without switching tone to convey storytelling - so it kind of sneaks up on you sometimes.

From my limited time in Germany, it seemed to me like there's less sarcasm and irony in German humor, and more highlighting nonsensical or tense situations. I didn't really "get" it at first, but once I did I had a right good time. Very nice and friendly people too, once you acclimate to the cultural differences.

At the risk of coming across as agressive:

q: How often does an Englishman laugh at a joke ?

a: Once, he laughs out of politeness, he'll never get it

q: How often does a German laugh at a joke ?

a: Twice. Once when you tell the joke, out of politeness, the second time when he thinks he gets it, but he'll never get it.

q: How often does a Jewish guy laugh at a joke ?

a: Not at all, he already knows the joke ;)

I think the article could use better terminology. Aggression is not really the right term. (Probably some lost-in-translation happening here...)

But the article's subtitle is something that does seem pretty spot on - and makes you think a bit:

"telling jokes is a method of reinforcing a social hierarchy"

And as erlanger's comment says - the end of the article crystallizes the meaning pretty well:

"Nurses and midwives tend to tell jokes about patients but not when the doctor is present. And when someone initiates a joke they tend to be ignored if they are in the presence of someone of a higher status."

There are many things that are cultural and that you'd need to see in the context of the region where the events occur. In Germany for instance, the business culture is quite formal and 'stiff' compared to the countries around it, and I can easily imagine that to be the case there.

But in other countries in that region (say, Poland, Belgium or the Netherlands) you'll find a completely different culture.

In Germany for instance in many firms even today it is still very customary to indicate a senior in the company with 'Sie', the polite form 'du' would be frowned upon unless it has been explicitly stated that that is permitted.

I seriously wonder how much of the report should simply be viewed through a German cultural lens in the region where the research was conducted, instead of used as a universal set of truths regarding humour the way the article suggests.

You really have to keep in mind that Germany is still very 'status conscious' compared to many other countries (at least, in my own limited experience, maybe 50 or so trips into Germany visiting people and businesses for various reasons).