The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior of a linear poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) in water is thought to result from the polymer–polymer attractive interaction. This polymer–polymer attraction is modeled by a temperature‐dependent Yukawa attractive potential, with Yukawa parameters determined by fitting the theoretical phase diagram for a pure Yukawa fluid to the experimental lower consolute boundary for a PNIPA–water solution. The predicted coexistence curve for the PNIPA–water mixtures in the temperature‐polymer volume fraction plane is reasonably close to the experimental cloud point data for the PNIPA–water system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1971–1976, 2000