Speaking of Pavlovian training and Jackson's family, I suspect Jackson's own preferences spring from his unhappy experiences with his family.
I think his "preferences" are nurtured. The family, that was just the fertile soil. Someone, a group of someones, saw Micheal's seed of inclinations -- and his amazing musical and showmanship talent -- in that soil as a growth that would be useful if managed well. So they gardened him.
Just my hunch.