The nonlinear features of the steady-state periodic response of hysteretic oscillators are investigated. Frequency-response curves of base-excited single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems possessing different hysteretic restoring forces are numerically obtained employing a continuation procedure based on the Jacobian of the Poincaré map. The memory-dependent restoring forces are expressed as a direct summation of linear and cubic elastic components and a hysteretic part described by a modified version of the Bouc-Wen law. The resulting force-displacement curves feature a pinching around the origin. Depending on the hysteresis material parameters (which regulate the shapes of the hysteresis loops), the oscillator exhibits hardening, softening and softening-hardening behaviors in which the switching from softening to hardening takes place above certain base excitation amplitudes. A comprehensive analysis in the parameters space is performed to identify the thresholds of these different behaviors. The restoring force features here considered have been experimentally obtained by means of an original rheological device comprising assemblies of steel and shape memory wire ropes. This study is carried out also with the aim of designing the restoring forces which give rise to dynamical behaviors useful for a variety of applications.