automarginarse

To isolate or exclude oneself socially, by choice — used in psychology and social commentary for someone who withdraws from a group rather than being pushed out of it.

• Después del divorcio, tendió a automarginarse de sus amigos. — After the divorce, he tended to isolate himself from his friends.
• El adolescente se automargina cuando se siente incomprendido. — The teenager isolates himself when he feels misunderstood.
• Automarginarse no resuelve el conflicto, solo lo pospone. — Isolating yourself doesn't resolve the conflict, it just postpones it.

Distinct from ser marginado (being excluded by others) — automarginarse specifically means the withdrawal is the person's own choice, not something done to them.

Often confused with aislarse.