Voodoo Death

Voodoo death, originally introduced by researcher Walter Cannon, refers to the phenomenon of an individual dying as a result of an emotional shock or deeply ingrained cultural beliefs. Also known as psychogenic death or psychosomatic death, it is more common in traditional societies than in modern or more advanced cultures but is not limited to any particular culture or circumstance. This type of death is also sometimes seen in traumatic prisoner-of-war situations.