Disclosed are an associated copolymer, a method for preparation of a polymer and a polymer prepared with the method, a use of the associated copolymer and/or the polymer in drilling fluids, and a drilling fluid containing the associated copolymer and/or the polymer. The associated copolymer comprises acrylamide structural units, zwitter-ionic structural units, and cationic polyamine structural units at a specific proportion, and the cationic polyamine structural units have specific kinematic viscosity and cationic degree; thus, when the associated copolymer is used as a viscosity improver for drilling fluids, the obtained drilling fluid not only has favorable apparent viscosity after it is aged at a high temperature, but also has high dynamic shear force, and is resistant to high temperature up to 200° C. or above, resistant to NaCl up to saturated concentration, and resistant to CaCl2 up to 20 wt % concentration.