This study examines how defense motivation influences the processing of heuristic cues using the heuristic-systematic model. College students evaluated a proposed mandatory essay-exam program with opinion poll results as heuristic cues, showing a preference for supportive cues over opposing ones when no arguments were presented. The results reveal that systematic processing occurs primarily in response to hostile cues, while supportive cues lead to attitude judgments being more influenced by personal vested interests, indicating a low-effort heuristic processing strategy.