Edit in JSFiddle

var contact1Model = new Backbone.Model( //instantiate model instance
    {firstName:'John',lastName:'Doe'}
);

console.log(contact1Model.toJSON()); //logs {firstName="John", lastName="Doe"}

//keep in mind this is not a reference its a copy of the attributes object
//i.e.
console.log(contact1Model.toJSON === contact1Model.attributes); //logs false