The film and discussion guide were created in 2014 with input from researchers at Boston University and Michigan State University. In just one year, over 55,000 students participated in Escalation workshops at colleges and high schools across the country.

One Love focuses on creating stigma around emotional abuse - a "gateway abuse" that is frequently visible to others, but not well understood or too easily explained away. The aim is to engage the 85% of people who will never be abusive to create social consequences for emotional abuse, and shift stigma away from the people who experience abuse and onto the abuse itself. The Escalation workshop engages young people in a conversation about healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors to empower individuals to help themselves and their friends before abuse escalates.

Escalation was developed using two prominent behavior theories: Theory of Planned Behavior and Diffusion of Innovation. The approach to stopping teen dating violence was based off the research of Dr. Emily Rothman at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Rothman and researchers at Michigan State University guided the creation of the workshop content.

The Escalation workshop content is based on real experiences of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. During the workshop, participants are provided with information on local resources they can access if they or someone they know are experiencing relationship abuse, or have previously.

The Escalation workshop is a prevention program that helps students develop a better understanding of relationship abuse and promotes bystander intervention to prevent abuse from occurring or escalating. During the workshop, students identify healthy relationship behaviors and discuss how social norms influence the perception of emotional abusive behaviors.

The Escalation workshop adds to campus education efforts to address dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, bystander intervention, and the warning signs of abuse.

During One Love's initial analysis of the program, 97% of students surveyed after the workshop said they would recommend the workshop to a friend, and nearly 90% suggest that it should be required viewing for all college students.

No cost for Escalation materials and virtual facilitator training sessions. In-person visits from a One Love staff person are available at varying costs.

Facilitator training sessions are available multiple times a week. Once trained, facilitators are welcome to hold the Escalation workshop as soon as they wish.

One Love staff members can offer feedback on the best ways to set up the Escalation workshop. One Love will also provide supplemental educational materials in addition to the Escalation film and manual.

The Escalation workshop has been held on over 400 college campuses and at over 150 high schools.