Shaun is an alcoholic who consumes more alcohol than food. He develops symptoms of disorientation and memory loss, but at the same time, seems to have a fantastic imagination. For example, when he met his doctor for the first time, they had a long discussion about how they were both from Portland, oregon, and went to school with many of the same people. In reality, Shaun is from Chicago, Illinois, and has never been to oregon. His ability to manufacture a story like this to cover the fact that he cannot remember his own personal history likely results from: