What About The Control Group?

A German study has found that alcoholics don't have much of a sense of humour. They haven't got around to explaining the rest of Germany. Then again, given the example of a "joke", I might be an alcoholic German, too:

It was Mother's Day. Anna and her brother had told their mother to stay in bed that morning. She read her book and looked forward to breakfast. After a long wait she finally went downstairs. Anna and her brother were both eating at the table.

The subjects were given a choice of four punchlines:

a) Anna said: "Hi mum, we didn't expect you to be awake so early."
b) Anna picked up an egg and smashed it on her brother's head.
c) Her brother said: "We have a new teacher at our school."
d) Anna said: "It's a surprise for Mother's Day. We cooked our own breakfast."

Well, I guess "d" does make a bit more sense than the others.

Also alcoholics weren't that good at "mentalising" which must mean something other than what I think it does.

They add that "a lack of sense of humour can affect social skills and interpersonal relationships". You know, that explains a lot.