Belief is the critical factor in a hex death. If a person, or victim, believes that a witch doctor or a Voodoo priest has laid a hex or curse on him to cause his death, either by cursing him or pointing a finger or bone at him, he probably will expire, and no amount of Western conventional medicine can save him. Usually hex death is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The second category refer to the fact that the victim can literally die from fright. In stressful situation the adrenaline flow increases, preparing the body to fight or run.
Rage affects the body as well.
Finally, if the victim believes his cursed situation is hopeless, he starts experiencing feelings of helplessness, incompetence, despair and worthlessness. His illness begins, which the victim has no desire to fight, and inevitably he succumbs. Cultural determinants do play a large factor in hex death alone with the victim's own perceptions. Once cursed the victim can be forced to withdraw from daily community life, becoming almost invisible to his neighbors. The cursed person becomes despondent, expecting death, and his friends and relatives do not dispute these notions but corroborate with them.