Ambiguity and Innovation: Implications for the Genesis of the Culture Broker1

Essential to the function of an innovator—particularly a group‐straddling one such as a “marginal man” or “culture broker”—is the manner in which others view him and the genesis of his mandate to innovate. An account of the genesis of a culture broker in a Yucatan peasant community suggests that ambiguity during the development of the innovator role may allow novel behavior while retarding negative sanction. The case described may help us understand the manner in which culture‐straddling brokers arise and receive permission to innovate.