In Voodoo, a poppet or effigy (what many call a "voodoo doll") can be used to represent a person, with pins or other actions intended to influence them. But not all uses of these dolls are malevolent.

The doll is believed to be cursed Credit: Wikipedia. Robert the Doll was gifted to Robert Eugene Otto in 1906 by his family’s Bahamian maid, who is believed to have practised black magic and voodoo.