A family of rheological models that take into account intramolecular friction, various types of intra‐ and intermolecular interactions, and various types of flexibility mechanisms are developed on the levels of configuration space kinetic theory and of conformation tensor theory. Particular attention is paid to formulae for the extra stress tensor. Predictions of rheological properties are calculated for one selected model corresponding to stiff macromolecular chains and large intramolecular friction. The predictions are found to be very similar to the predictions implied by the rigid dumbbell model. The main difference is in the mathematical complexity of the governing equations. While all solutions of the governing equations that are presented herein are found analytically in closed form, solutions of the governing equations of the rigid dumbbell model require tedious numerical calculations. Since mathematical simplicity of rheological models is particularly useful in numerical calculations of flows of polymeric liquids, the rheological models presented are also suitable for this application.